Even when it WASN’T hep to be hip, vocalist/songwriter/pianist Ben Sidran has been, was and always will be…hip. He’s been on the scene in various forms for decades, weaving in and out of semi-popularity since his association with Steve Miller. This latest disc just might be his Magnum Opus. It’s got a lot of fantastically non-posing songs that he’s composed as well as a couple surprise covers. Of the latter, a late night casual take of Monk’s “Reflections” has him putting up the chairs after a second set with tenor saxist John Ellis while a remake of Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons” is completely and unabashedly unself conscious as you could get. His band of Leo Sidran/dr, Tim Luntzel-Orlando Le Fleming/b, Will Bernard/g Moses Patrou/perc cruise like a 57 Bel Aire on the gently funky “Back Nine,” a laid back and bluesy “Brand New Music” and West Coast Cool “At Least we Got to the Race.” His title track is the sort of thing that only a guy who’s lived the life could get away with. A Buble’ would trip over the first stanza, while he exudes suavecito on this and “Take a Little Hit.” Some moaning guitar on “in The Beginning” keeps the moods varied, but the attitude always remains the same. Hip-eroony.
Nardis Music